Ep 2: Meet Your Farmers

The People Growing Food for Ypsilanti

Do you know who grows your food? 

Behind every tomato, bunch of greens, bouquet of herbs, or basket of peaches is a real person. Families who have farmed for generations, first-year growers building something new, and passionate producers committed to feeding their community with care.

The Ypsilanti Farmers Market is proud to be home to a wide variety of growers, each bringing their own story, traditions, and knowledge to the market.

Whether you’ve been shopping with us for years or are visiting for the first time, we invite you to get to know the people behind your food.

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Generational Farms & Longtime Market Staples

Karpo Farms

20+ years at the market

Serving Ypsilanti since 1978, the Karpo family has been part of the market community for generations. The market’s largest fruit producer, Karpo Farms brings an abundance of seasonal favorites including apricots, blueberries, cherries, apples, and their beloved cider in the fall.

Shanky the Farmer

15 years at the market

Michelle of Shanky the Farmer has long been a familiar face at the market. Known for an incredible variety of seasonal offerings, they specialize in unique plants, heirloom vegetables, peppers, and one of the widest selections of tomatoes at the market. Spring gardeners especially look forward to their plant starts each year.

Healthy Harvest Farm

8 years at the market

Healthy Harvest Farm provides organically grown produce alongside handmade cottage foods and baked goods. Their farm focuses on nutrient-rich vegetables and varieties not commonly found in grocery stores, including tatsoi, purple haze carrots, and heirloom peppers and tomatoes. Just as important as the food itself is the lasting relationship they build with customers and the local community.

Sheats Produce

8 years at the market

Established in 2018 in Milan, Michigan, Sheats Produce grew from a small market garden into a thriving family operation rooted in over seven generations of farming history. Today, the farm continues that legacy while expanding its offerings and deepening its connection to the local food system.

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Up-and-Coming Farms

Farmacea

2 years at the market

Farmacea believes food is the first medicine. Using biointensive growing practices, they produce nutrient-dense food rooted in the belief that farms can nourish both body and community. Their work honors ancestral traditions while reconnecting people to the land and to one another.

Field & Forest Farm

2 years at the market

Field & Forest Farm is a small-scale vegetable, herb, and flower farm located in Northfield Township. Growing on less than an acre using organic and sustainable methods, the farm offers a diverse seasonal selection while operating largely by hand. They are a majority women-owned and women-run farm dedicated to thoughtful, ecological growing practices.

Forager’s Garden

2 years at the market

Located in Ann Arbor, Forager’s Garden is a small market garden focused on growing nutrient-dense produce using natural farming practices. Their work centers soil health, biodiversity, and strengthening community resilience through local food.

Refugee Garden Initiatives

2 years at the market

Refugee Garden Initiatives supports refugee families through food access, education, entrepreneurship, and storytelling. Their work combines culturally rooted farming with trauma-informed care, helping participants build stability, connection, and opportunity through growing food and sharing knowledge.

Dog Star Farm

2 years at the market

Built around the values of connection, knowledge, and nourishment, Dog Star Farm is committed to strengthening the local food system while celebrating diverse food traditions and community relationships. Their produce is grown using organic practices with a focus on slow, steady growth and long-term community care.

Spenny Sprouts

2 years at the market

Spenny Sprouts focuses on affordable, hyper-local food grown responsibly and sustainably. With an emphasis on reducing waste, accessible pricing, and community connection, they believe local food should nourish both people and the planet.

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New to the Market Community

Moon Valley Mushrooms

First year at the market

Moon Valley Mushrooms is a Michigan-based culinary mushroom farm specializing in fresh gourmet mushrooms including Lion’s Mane, Oyster, and King Oyster varieties. Born from a passion for foraging and mycology, the farm combines careful cultivation with a love for unique flavors and functional foods.

Romanowski Farms

First year at the market

Romanowski Farms is a first-generation farm based in Britton, Michigan, dedicated to growing high-quality produce and seasonal goods for local communities. With big goals and deep determination, they are excited to begin their journey at the Ypsilanti Farmers Market.

MJG Management

First year at the market

MJG Management provides locally grown produce, herbs, fruits, eggs, and perennial plants with a focus on sustainability, ethical growing practices, and community nourishment. Their farm specializes in seasonal Michigan-grown foods ranging from collard greens and berries to culinary herbs and farm-fresh eggs.

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There’s nothing quite like summertime at the farmers market. Fresh fruit, overflowing tables of vegetables, flowers in bloom, and the chance to meet the people growing your food. We hope you’ll stop by, support local farmers, and experience the abundance of the season with us.

Ypsilanti Farmers Market📍 16 S. Washington St. Ypsilanti, MI 48197

Market Hours

• Saturdays: 9am–1pm

• Tuesdays: 3pm–7pm